1. Scope

2. Introduction

Before a road trailer can be registered for the first time
in Australia or used on a public road, it must meet the requirements of the
Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 (the Act). The Act applies to all new and
used imported vehicles.

The Australian and State and Territory Governments jointly
maintain a federal system for regulating supply to the market of road vehicles.
The system establishes national design and performance standards for vehicles.
These standards are known as Australian Design Rules (the ADRs). Amongst other
matters, the ADRs are designed to make vehicles safe for use on the road.

The
Australian Government maintains jurisdiction over road vehicles up to the point
of first supply to the Australian market (i.e. manufacture or importation).
Once a vehicle has been supplied to the market, it is in-service. State and
Territory Governments are responsible for continued regulation after this point
(e.g. vehicle registration, roadworthiness and the approval of modifications
to vehicles in-service).

4. The Purpose of this Bulletin

This Vehicle Standards Bulletin establishes a set of design and construction
standards for road trailers (with an ATM of 4.5 tonnes or less) that operate
as an alternative to the ADRs.

The standards are based on the ADRs but are simpler and more practical to
use. They offer a low-cost alternative, by eliminating the need for some of
the more expensive forms of vehicle testing and evidence that are required
under the ADRs.

In particular, the standards reflect the common requirements of the States
and Territories for trailers to be registered for road use. The standards set
out concrete guidance and clearly-defined processed that are more suitable
for individuals and small firms.

Road trailers that meet the standards of this bulletin do not need to be certified
by the Australian Government, and do not need to be issued with an identification
plate or a used import plate. That is, manufacturers and importers are exempt
from the need to apply to the Australian Government and submit detailed evidence
based on the ADRs.

Rather, manufacturers and importers merely need to seek road registration
from the relevant State or Territory registering authority. It is the responsibility
of the manufacture or importer to ensure that the trailer meets the standards
as set out in this bulletin.

In the event that a manufacturer or importer supplies a trailer to the market
that does not comply with the requirements of this bulletin, and no other form
of approval was obtained for the vehicle, the manufacturer must take all steps
possible to rectify the non-compliance. If the non-compliance cannot be rectified,
the manufacturer must recall the vehicle from service and take steps to notify
relevant Registration Authorities that the vehicle does not comply with the
requirements of this bulletin and should not be registered.

In the event that a manufacturer or importer does not comply with these conditions
or continues to supply non complying vehicles to the market, the Administrator
of vehicle Standards may require that all vehicles supplied by the manufacturer
undergo a full compliance process and advise state and territory governments
that any vehicles supplied by that manufacturer under VSB1 are not approved
for supply to the market.

However if a particular vehicle does not comply with this Bulletin, and if
it were made to comply it would not be able to perform the function to which
it was designed to perform. Manufacturers may apply for approval to supply
vehicles of that type under the provisions of Administrators Circular 0-3-6.

5. Record Keeping

Whilst manufacturers and importers are exempt from submitting
detailed evidence based on the ADRs to the Australian Government, manufacturers
and Importers must retain records relating to the manufacture, testing or inspection
of road trailers for the life of the model and for a period of 10 years after
the last road trailer is supplied to the market.

These records must contain
sufficient information to establish compliance with this Vehicle Standards
Bulletin (e.g. written confirmation from the State or Territory that the LPG
installation meets the requirements for road registration) and in addition,
they must also identify any components that may have been fitted to a particular
road trailer for the purposes tracing components in the event of a safety related
defect recall notice.

6. Conditions Relating to Non-Complying Road Trailers

If a road trailer does
not comply with the requirements of the Motor Vehicle
Standards Act 1989 (the
Act) or this bulletin, the manufacturer or importer is required to:

Conduct
a safety investigation into the issues surrounding the non-compliance. This
investigation shall report on the cause of the non-compliance, the number
of road vehicles affected and any other relevant facts or circumstances.
This report should then be forwarded to the Administrator of Vehicle Standards
within 14 days.

If an issue of non-compliance is detected the manufacturer or importer
is to cease supplying the affected vehicles to the market immediately and
to notify owners that the vehicle does not comply and should be withdrawn
from service until action can be undertaken to correct the non-compliance.

The
manufacturer must determine if the non compliance is a safety related issue,
in which case a voluntary or mandatory recall is to occur in accordance with
the Procedures for the Rectification of Safety Related
Defects in Vehicles and Related Products (the Recall Code). In instances where the non compliance
is deemed not to be a safety related matter, a manufacturer or importer may
utilise a field service campaign to resolve the non-compliance.

7. Vehicle Plate

Before registration under the terms of this bulletin, the
manufacturer or importer must affix a vehicle plate to the trailer.

The vehicle
plate is used instead of the identification plate (for new trailers) or used
import plate (for used imported trailers). The vehicle plate provides a clear
indication to the State and Territory registering authority—and to owners
and the general public—that the trailer is ready for road use. The vehicle
plate also provides useful information about the specifications of the trailer.

The
vehicle plate must be durable, non-corrosive metal and must be affixed to the vehicle in a position where it may be readily examined.

The vehicle plate must be
permanently affixed by pop rivets, hammer drive screws or welding. Affixing
plates with adhesives is not acceptable.

The vehicle plate must show at least
the following information:

Manufacturer's or Importers Name (whichever party
takes responsibility for the certification statement);

This trailer was manufactured to comply with the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989.

The certification statement for used imported trailers is:

This trailer is an imported used trailer. It has been modified and assessed as complying with the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989.

This plate may also include additional information such as the tyre placard
information (specified in Section 16). All information must be legible and
embossed, indented, etched or engraved in letters and numbers not less than
2.5 mm high.

8. Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

All trailers must be identified by means
of a 17 character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The VIN to be used is
specified by the International Standards Organisation, known as an ISO VIN.
Trailers must be marked with the VIN in accordance with the ADRs.

Some state
and territory registering authorities require a VIN to be stamped onto a substantial
part of the trailer (i.e. the drawbar) for registration purposes. It is recommended
that a secondary VIN be provided, in addition to that specified in Section
7 of this bulletin.

Manufacturers supplying up to 500 trailers per year must
obtain their VIN structure from Australian
Standards Ltd or their state or
territory registration authority.

Where a used imported trailer has a 17 character
VIN issued by its original manufacturer, this VIN will be listed on NEVDIS
at the time an import approval is issued. If the VIN is something other than
a 17 character VIN, an appropriate VIN will be issued by vehicle safety standards
and listed on NEVDIS.

Manufacturers supplying more than 500 trailers per year
must contact the National Vehicle Identification Coordinator at the NEVDIS
Administration Unit on Ph. 02 9218 6546 for information about their VIN structure
and about the method of reporting their VINs.

9. Registration

Registration of trailers remains the responsibility of the
State and Territory registration authorities. Trailer manufacturers or importers
should consult the relevant authority for the necessary registration procedures,
such as inspection.(Refer to the local registration authority for further
information or click here to go to the VSB1 Contact
Page).

9.1 Registration Plate (Number Plate)

Provision must be made for mounting
of a 372 mm x 136 mm registration plate to the rear of every trailer so that
no part of the plate is more than 1300 mm above the ground.

9.2 Registration Label Holder

Trailers are required to display a registration
label on the left hand side of the trailer. If there is no window in this
location (such as would be found on a caravan), a registration label holder
must be fitted on the left hand side of the vehicle.

10. Responsibility for Safety

Manufacturers and importers should note that
they have a responsibility for the overall safety of their trailers. Manufacturers
and importers should be aware that the Trade Practices Act 1974 allows for
mandatory recall and rectification of vehicles with safety related defects
that will or may cause injury. The responsibility for recall lies with the
manufacturer or importer, whoever is the supplier (distributor) in Australia.

The
procedures for recall are contained in Procedures for the Rectification of
Safety Related Defects in Vehicles and Related Products (the Recall Code).